Chelios leads U.S. Hockey HOF class

Former Wisconsin, Boston U. standouts among five inductees

USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean on Monday announced U.S. Hockey's 2011 Hall of Fame class, which included former University of Wisconsin player and 1984 Winter Olympics team member Chris Chelios; play-by-play announcer Mike "Doc" Emrick; Philadelphia Flyers founder Ed Snider; University of Wisconsin alum Gary Suter, the 1986 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's top rookie; and Keith Tkachuk, who played collegiate hockey at Boston University.

“It’s an extraordinary class,” said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey. "The varied contributions to the landscape of hockey in our country is truly amazing and, collectively, this class has positively impacted every level of hockey."

A member of the Badgers' 1983 NCAA national championship team, Chelios played in the NHL from 1983-2010 with the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Atlanta Thrashers. On Nov. 24, 2006, he played in his 1,496th NHL game, the most of any American-born player. He finished his career with 1,651 games played. In the 2008-09 season, Chelios appeared in the playoffs for an NHL-record 24th time; he missed the postseason only twice during his career (1997-98 and 2009-10).

Suter, who played at Wisconsin from 1983-85, was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He was a member of the Flames' 1989 Stanley Cup championship team and also played for the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks before retiring after the 2001-02 season. His 17-year NHL career included 844 points -- fourth in league history by an American defenseman. Suter earned a silver medal with the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. He also helped he United States capture the first World Cup of Hockey crown in 1996.

A member of the BU team in 1990-91, Tkachuk is one of only four American-born players to score 500 career NHL goals. He recorded a career-high and NHL-leading 52 goals during the 1996-97 campaign with the Phoenix Coyotes, which marked the first time an American-born player led the NHL in goals. A five-time NHL All-Star and four-time Olympian (1992, '98, 2002, '06), Tkachuk earned a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Games. He also helped the U.S. win the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. He played 19 season in the NHL with Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers between 1991-92 and 2009-10.

In nearly 40 years as a play-by-play announcer, Emrick has called 13 Stanley Cup Finals as the lead national announcer on NBC, Versus, FOX and ESPN. A 2008 recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fame's Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to hockey broadcasting, Emrick also served as the voice of the New Jersey Devils from 1993-2011. He has received numerous honors, including a national Emmy Award for “Outstanding Sports Personality -- Play by Play” in 2011, the Lester Patrick Trophy in 2004, as well as seven local Emmy Awards. Emrick has served as vice president of the NHL Broadcaster’s Association since 1985 and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee. He received a doctorate in radio/television/film from Bowling Green in 1976.

In 1966, Snider made a successful bid for the Philadelphia team when the NHL made its first expansion. His commitment to advancing the game at the amateur level is evidenced in many ways, including in 2005 when he founded the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation to provide unprivileged children in the Philadelphia area with an opportunity to learn to play hockey at local rinks. In 2008, the Snider Hockey Foundation rescued three of the five Philadelphia inner-city ice-skating rinks that had been targeted for closure by funding and operating them for the city. The Foundation now funds and administers programming in all five city rinks. Snider was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973. Its goal is to preserve the history of the game in the United States, while recognizing the contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams. New members are inducted annually and must have made exceptional contributions to hockey in the United States during the course of their career.

The United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum is dedicated to honoring legends of the game and showcasing U.S. hockey memories. Opened in 1973 in Eveleth, Minn., the facility is driven to preserve and interpret America’s hockey heritage.

With the “Great Wall of Fame” displaying the inductee plaques, historical displays representing all levels of American hockey, video presentations, interactive experiences and traveling outreach programs, the spirit and excitement of the sport is captured and the traditions are presented to hockey fans throughout the country.